Bill > SB242

This bill seeks to address concerns about foreign ownership of agricultural land in Hawaii by establishing new restrictions and transparency requirements. The legislation defines a "foreign entity" as any corporation, business association, or group not incorporated in the United States, and sets limits on their ability to own or lease agricultural land within the state. Specifically, the bill would prohibit foreign entities from owning, leasing, or controlling more than an unspecified number of acres of agricultural land, and restricts lease terms to no more than five years. Foreign entities would be required to file annual reports with the Department of Agriculture detailing their land ownership, including total acreage, location, and types of agricultural production. The bill creates a public online registry to track foreign-owned agricultural lands and establishes penalties for non-compliance, including fines and potential voiding of land transactions that violate the new restrictions. The legislature's motivation stems from Hawaii having the second-highest percentage of foreign-held agricultural land in the United States in 2022, at 12.8%, and concerns about local farmers' land access and food system resilience. The bill includes some exceptions for inheritance, non-agricultural land use, and existing foreign land holdings as of July 1, 2025, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2050, with appropriations made for maintaining the public registry.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=242&year=2025